https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2018.88.3.02
The author shows how the Jewish community in Jerusalem is scrupulous
about their own religion and their allegiance to God and His Temple. On the
other hand, 2 Macc reveals a Hellenistic orientation by viewing the Temple
as that of the city, as is shown by the progression city-place-Temple (cf. 3:1-3)
and by reference to the high priest of the city (cf. 3:9).
Our section (3:14-22) focuses on the author’s intention to involve the
auditorium in the action, as he highlights the tragic emotion experienced.
The classification of roles in the description of the population of the city
is interesting. The priests in their formal attire form a distinct group with
the greatest attention (two verses) given to describing the grief of the high
priest. The males participate in the public supplication (3:18), while the
married women express their grief with bared breasts and sackcloth around
their waists, symbolising their role as child-bearers.
The unified narrative conforms to the general pattern of a deity’s defence
of his temple: attackers approach, the defenders ask the deity for help and the
deity responds. There are many examples of this type of narrative such as
the defence of Delphi by Apollo against marauding Persians in 480 B.C.E.,
the story told by Herodotus (8:35-39).
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